Punjab Minister Held Portfolio for Non-Existent Department for 20 Months

Punjab : In a bizarre bureaucratic blunder, Punjab minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal was assigned a department that did not even exist for 20 months. Throughout this period, he neither had an official office nor a dedicated staff. The mistake came to light only recently, prompting the Punjab government to issue a gazette notification to rectify the error.

Dhaliwal, who has been serving as a cabinet minister, was officially assigned a portfolio that had no functional existence in the government structure. Sources indicate that despite multiple attempts to address the issue, the oversight remained uncorrected for almost two years. The absence of an office or administrative support meant that no work could be carried out under this department.

Realizing the blunder, the Punjab government finally amended its records and issued a formal correction through an official gazette notification. The incident has sparked criticism of the state administration, with opposition leaders questioning the efficiency of governance and decision-making.

The matter has raised concerns about administrative transparency and accountability, with experts suggesting that such errors indicate a lack of coordination within government departments. The correction, though delayed, ensures that Dhaliwal can now focus on a legitimate portfolio.